Walled Lake Western’s David Walczyk did all he could to keep his season alive in Friday night’s exciting opening round win over Canton in MHSAA Football Playoffs.
Walczyk caught the game-winning 28 yard touchdown with 1:06 remaining in the fourth quarter that sealed a 44-41 Walled Lake Western victory.
Walled Lake Western QB Kyle Bambard runs.
“Kyle [Bambard] checked out of that play. He called a hitch-and-go and threw a great pass. All I had to do was catch it,” Walczyk said.
The Walled Lake Western quarterback Bambard proved to be too much for Canton as he shredded the Chief defense with his arm and legs accounting for 333 of the Warriors 395 offensive yards.
Bambard completed 8 of 16 passes for 129 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. He added 204 rushing yards on 15 carries and one touchdown on the ground.
“Tonight was all about the offseason. Timing with the receivers and working with the o-line, that’s the best o-line in the state,” Bambard said.
Walled Lake Western took a 38-20 with 10:04 remaining in the fourth quarter on a Torrez Nesbit (four carries for 47 yards and a touchdown) 30-yard rushing touchdown following a Canton three-and-out.
Canton (8-2) would fight to the finish as they scored 21 unanswered fourth quarter points to take a 41-38 lead with 2:27 left.
Jake Boucher (seven catches for 186 yards and two touchdowns) caught his second touchdown of the night from Greg Williams on third and ten from the Walled Lake Western 22-yard-line to put Canton up 41-38.
Boucher’s first touchdown started the Canton rally as he outraced the Warrior secondary for 66 yards with 7:53 to play.
After a Canton two-point-conversion, the Warriors went three-and-out to give the Canton offense an opportunity to pry back in to the game.
Williams (12-17, 236 yards, and two touchdowns) piloted an 87 yard touchdown drive with four straight completions- three to Boucher and one to Robert Guajardo (two catches for 22 yards) putting Canton in the red zone.
“Number 11 [Boucher] stuck two of our kids. When they had to go to spread, they executed,” Walled Lake Western head coach Mike Zdebski said. “Our secondary let their receivers get behind them in long yardage situation.”
Following an incompletion in the endzone, Williams connected with Boucher to the three-yard-line.
On the next play, Charles Turfe ran in his third touchdown of the night to cut the Warrior deficit to four at 38-34 with 3:44 remaining.
